Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
 26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related DNA sequences in blood from three blood donors and two transfusion recipients who developed posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). In the first case, the sole donor was positive for antibody to hepatitis B surface (HBs) and core (HBc) antigens and had elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, while the recipient had no HBV serologic markers. Both the donor and the recipient had serologic markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and were found positive for HBV DNA and HCV RNA sequences by PCR. The second case involved two donors and one recipient. Serologic tests for conventional HBV markers were negative in all three individuals, but one of the donors had elevated ALT. HBV DNA sequences were detected by PCR in the serum of the recipient and of the donor with high ALT, but not in the serum of the donor with normal ALT. Anti-HCV was detected in the serum of the recipient and of the suspect donor but not in that of the donor with normal ALT. The sequences amplified in the S region and determined after cloning of PCR products for both donor-recipient pairs were indistinguishable from each other and identical to the sequence of the major HBV subtype of adw in the first case and ayw in the second case. Furthermore, for the second case, an identical single-point mutation was found in both the donor and the recipient. These data confirm the transmission of conserved HBV sequences together with HCV in posttransfusion NANBH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Transmission of serologically silent hepatitis B virus along with hepatitis C virus in two cases of posttransfusion hepatitis. 155 1

Cellular immunity to HBcAg was studied in hepatitis B virus carrier children and neonates born to hepatitis B virus carrier mothers. A significant proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to HBcAg was found in 5 of 10 children with elevated ALT levels but in none of the nine HBeAg-positive children with normal ALT levels. HBeAg but not HBsAg was detected in cord blood of 9 of 10 neonates born to HBeAg-positive carrier mothers, suggesting exposure of these neonates to HBeAg in utero. However, cord mononuclear cells from neonates born to HBeAg-positive carrier mothers did not show a significant change in the proportion of suppressor and helper T-cell subsets or proliferative response to HBcAg. Nor did they produce interleukin-2 receptor after being cocultured with HBcAg. The unresponsiveness of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells or cord mononuclear cells to HBcAg was not reversed by CD8+ cell depletion. Although cord blood mononuclear cells from neonates born to carrier mothers positive for antibody to HBeAg also did not respond to HBcAg, we encountered an infant, born to a carrier mother positive for antibody to HBeAg, who contracted acute hepatitis B at 2.5 mo of age. The baby's peripheral-blood mononuclear cells showed a significant proliferative response to HBcAg. These results support the view that transplacental maternal HBeAg probably induces a specific unresponsiveness of helper T cells to HBcAg and HBeAg in the neonates born to HBeAg-positive carrier mothers. This specific helper T cell tolerance could be maintained throughout the early replicative phase of carrier state but might break someday with the appearance of raised ALT level.
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PMID:Cellular immune response to HBcAg in mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus. 156 17

Acute hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) is a benign, self limited disease with infrequent extrahepatic features unlike the hepatitis B or the nonA-nonB virus infection. We describe the case of a 37 year old white woman with HAV who had a relapse with a second elevation of the alanine aminotransferase level together with joint pain, skin lesions, angioneurotic edema, and autoantibodies (ANA, anti smooth muscle, antiparietal gastric cells). The liver biopsy showed piecemeal and early bridging necrosis. She had a rapid reversal of her clinical, biochemical and histological abnormalities. As far as we known, this is the first reported case of autoantibodies or angioneurotic edema associated with HAV. We comment on the pathogenesis of this rare association.
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PMID:[Biphasic viral hepatitis "A" associated with autoimmune phenomena]. 159 70

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were proposed as surrogate markers of non-A, non-B (NANB) infection. In this study we analyzed 649 consecutive repeat blood donors to define the possible exclusion rate if both surrogate markers were implemented in our Blood Service, and to assess risk factors associated with elevated ALT levels. One hundred and seven blood donors (16.5%) had slightly elevated ALT levels (higher than the upper reference value, but less than twice this level), but only 15 (2.3%) had a level higher than mean log + 2.25 SD. Seventy-seven (11.8%) resulted anti-HBc positive. Blood donors with elevated ALT levels and those who were anti-HBc positive belonged to different populations, being only 6 (0.9%) positive for both surrogate markers. Only two known donors (0.3%) resulted anti-HCV positive, and each of them was implicated in one of the four post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) cases observed in 200 recipients of blood from these 649 donors. Both were negative for anti-HBc but one had elevated ALT levels. Male sex, age, alcohol use and obesity resulted all independently and significantly associated with elevated ALT levels. For both alcohol use and body weight we observed a significant linear relationship with serum ALT levels. These findings suggest that in our Region the exclusion of blood donors with ALT levels above the reference value, or those anti-HBc positive, would exclude an unacceptably high rate of blood donors without proven evidence of post-transfusion hepatitis prevention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Serum alanine aminotransferase levels among volunteer blood donors: effect of sex, alcohol intake and obesity. 162 21

We report the development of severe hepatotoxicity in a patient on zidovudine therapy who received 3.3 g of acetaminophen in less than 36 hours. Three days later, the patient's serum aspartate aminotransferase level was 5,724 U/L, alanine aminotransferase was 3,124 U/L, lactate dehydrogenase was 12,675 U/L, alkaline phosphatase was 84 U/L, and total bilirubin was 20 mumol/L. These values substantially improved over the ensuing 4 days. Serologic results for hepatitis B, hepatitis A, and cytomegalovirus were all negative. The pattern and time sequence of transaminase elevation in this patient are consistent with acute acetaminophen hepatotoxicity, especially since zidovudine-induced hepatotoxicity is described as producing cholestasis rather than acute hepatitis. We hypothesize that our patient's susceptibility to acetaminophen-dependent hepatotoxicity may have been augmented by competitive utilization of glucuronidation by other drugs such as zidovudine and/or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with subsequent increased cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of acetaminophen. Additionally, due to malnutrition and/or to human immunodeficiency virus infection per se, our patient may have had decreased hepatic reserves of glutathione with which to conjugate the toxic acetaminophen product of the P450 system. Although severe acetaminophen-associated hepatotoxicity has not previously been reported in patients receiving zidovudine, we suggest that clinicians be aware of this potential interaction and counsel malnourished patients, especially those with concomitant hepatic disease, to exercise caution when taking both these medications.
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PMID:Severe hepatotoxicity in a patient receiving both acetaminophen and zidovudine. 836 34

Serum samples from 155 patients on haemodialysis were examined for markers of hepatitis B and C. Abbott and Ortho Elisa tests were used for the determinations. ALT levels were analysed at the same time. Of the 345 random blood donors and 366 prisoners examined, 1.44% proved to be anti-HCV antibody positive. 13 medical staff workers of 147 were found to be positive for anti-HCV antibody (19.1%). In patients on chronic haemodialysis 41.29% anti-HCV antibody prevalence was found. The prevalence of anti-HBc and anti-HCV antibodies in correlation with the number of transfusions was examined as well, in serums of chronic uraemic patients. Anti-HBc antibody prevalence was significantly higher in the polytransfused group (p less than 0.01), compared to the group without transfusion. There were no correlation between the number of transfusions and anti-HCV antibody occurrence. ALT values were in correlation with HBV and HCV seropositives. Elevated ALT levels were found in patients with HBV and/or HCV infection. In conclusion, screening for HBV and HCV markers among patients receiving blood, blood donors and medical staff workers seems to be necessary in the future. The results suggest the determination of anti-HBc to be an early and common marker of hepatitis B and C and the frequent occurrence of nosocomial transmission and the importance of prevention at high risk patients.
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PMID:[Hepatitis B virus markers and anti-HCV antibodies in hemodialyzed patients]. 163 Aug 2

In a prospective clinical trial the risk of infection after application of virus inactivated antithrombin III concentrate ANTITHROMBIN III IMMUNO (AT III) was investigated in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The study was conducted according to the recommendations of the International Committee on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ICTH), with the exception that most patients required additional blood products as well as AT III. Twenty-seven patients were eligible to test for the risk of acquiring hepatitis B. Twenty-six patients could be evaluated in terms of hepatitis NANB transmission considering ALT-levels whereas 20 patients could be tested for anti-HCV one year after surgery. Samples from 78 patients could be monitored for anti-HIV-1. None of these patients showed any signs of infection. AT III IMMUNO seems to be an antithrombin III concentrate with low or absent infectivity.
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PMID:Safety of virus inactivated antithrombin III concentrate antithrombin III immuno (AT III). 163 60

Samples from prospectively followed recipients, their respective donors, and a cohort of random donors were used to evaluate the specificity and efficacy of a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) as an adjunct to anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RIBA reacted (RIBA+) in 100 percent of patients who developed hepatitis associated with anti-HCV seroconversion documented by EIA and in 100 percent of the EIA-positive (EIA+) donors implicated in these cases. In contrast, RIBA reacted in none of 10 recipients who were EIA+ but did not develop hepatitis, in none of 7 EIA+ patients with hepatitis B or cytomegalovirus infection, in 33 percent of EIA+ donors who were not implicated in hepatitis transmission, and in 37 percent of EIA+ random donors. Hence, the vast majority of EIA+ individuals who have ancillary evidence of HCV infection react on RIBA, whereas the majority of EIA+ individuals in low-risk settings do not react (RIBA-negative, or RIBA-). There was a strong association between RIBA reactivity and the presence of a surrogate marker (elevated alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and/or antibody to hepatitis B core antigen); 43 percent of RIBA+ implicated donors had a surrogate marker as compared to none of 14 EIA+, RIBA- donors. Among EIA+ random donors, 77 percent of those with a surrogate marker were RIBA+, as compared with 29 percent of those without a surrogate marker. In addition, in EIA+ donors, RIBA reactivity correlated with the extent of ALT elevation; 86 percent of those with an ALT greater than 135 IU per L were RIBA+ compared with 18 percent of those with an ALT less than 30 IU per L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The use of a recombinant immunoblot assay in the interpretation of anti-hepatitis C virus reactivity among prospectively followed patients, implicated donors, and random donors. 165 53

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was investigated among different populations in Taiwan, where anti-HCV was detected in 0.8% (24/2,994) of adult volunteer blood donors, 0.1% (1/1,305) of youngsters and children, 12.5% (8/64) of adult volunteer blood donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 36.5% (23/63) of hemodialysis patients, 4.1% (13/318) of male homosexuals, 25.4% (16/63) of cases positive for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), 82.2% (578/703) of intravenous drug users (IVDUs), and 10.3% (23/223) of female prostitutes (FPs). Among patients with chronic liver diseases including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the overall prevalence rate for anti-HCV was 34.1% (42/123), and a higher prevalence was noted in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative cases than in HBsAg-positive cases. The prevalence of anti-HCV in volunteer blood donors and high prevalence found in IVDUs, hemodialysis patients, anti-HIV positive cases, and FPs are consistent with those results from other countries. These findings suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is transmitted by both blood-borne and sexual contact routes. Among flavivirus infections, anti-HCV was detected in 0.3% (1/289) and 1.3% (4/310) of Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever patients, respectively. In conclusion, in Taiwan, an area with high endemicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the epidemiological status of HCV infection is similar to that observed in other countries, and no serum cross-reactivity was noticed between HCV and flavivirus infections.
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PMID:Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in different populations in Taiwan. 165 45

To evaluate the Ethiopian national blood requirement and supply and to determine the impact of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG) screening on the blood supply, 407 random blood donor sera were tested for HBsAG, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and ALT activity. HBsAG and anti-HIV antibody were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique using Hepanostica and Welcozyme kits, respectively. The Western Blot test was performed to confirm anti-HIV positive sera by the ELISA technique. ALT was determined by an automated photometer using ALAT kits and serologic testing for syphilis was done by the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test. The amount of blood required in Ethiopia and the actual supply was calculated on the basis of the number and type of hospital beds in Addis Abada and the number of blood transfusions in units/hospital bed. The results demonstrated that the combined donor and unit rejection rate was 34.6%. The annual blood requirement was 7 units for emergency and 4 for nonemergency beds. The national blood requirement in 1989 was 64,350-80,000 units, but the supply met only 1/3 of the requirement. The mean and 2SD cutoff ALT levels were 28 and 69 IU/L, respectively. ALT was elevated in 9.1% of HBsAG positive but apparently health donors, while HBsAG screening eliminated 25% of those with elevated ALT activity. These data suggest that there is a serious blood shortage in Ethiopia and that the currently supplied blood is relatively unsafe in terms of hepatitis. Thus, HBsAG screening should be done along with the implementation of a blood policy that ensures the procurement of sufficient blood for hemotheraphy in Ethiopia.
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PMID:National blood requirement, serum ALT and hepatitis in Ethiopian blood donors. 165 34


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